Coffee maker



March 2, L `)EPSON 2,312,556 I v COFFEE MAKER Original Filed Oct. 27, 1958 Patented Mar. 2, 1943 f come mima iIvar Jepson, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Chicago Flexible Shaft Company, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Original application October 27, 1938, Serial No.

237,247. Divided and this application September 11, 1939, Serial No. 294,306

This invention relates to coffee makers, and has special reference to vcoffee makers such as the vacuum type wherein water is heated in one container and transferred to another and returned during the making operations.

An object of the invention is the provision of -a vacuum type coffee maker having improved means for securing the containers together.

Another object of the invention is to provide a. vacuum type coffee maker having improved filter means.

Another object of the invention is to provide a unit of assembly including a filter and a fastening means of unique construction and function for securing the containers together and also for securing the filter in its operative position'and for permitting quick and easy disassembly of the parts and replacement oi' the filter element.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a coffee maker having an improved coffee container bowl.

' A further object of the invention is the provision of improved means `for handling the containers and improved means for actuating the securing means.

Another objectof the invention is to provide an improved filter and means coacting with the illter to clamp it in working position and also to clamp the upper coffee container on the lower liquid containing pot, the clamping means further coacting with the filter to permit unfastening of the container and the pot without unseating the filter.

Other objects and advantages will appear from the following description and the accompanyingV drawing, in which- Figure 1 is a vertical section through a coee maker embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary section through the filter mechanism on the line 2-2 of Figure 1, and

Fig. 3 is a top view vof the strainer frame.

This is a division of my copending application Serial No. 237,247, filed October 27, 1938, entitled Coffee maker.

The invention is directed primarily to vacuum type coee makers and others operating an analogous principles, that is, by the displacement oi' water from the coffee pot into another container or another section of the container and its subsequent return to the pot. There are, however, certain phases of the invention which may not be directly limited to such construction. The device herein shown is a vacuum type coffee maker having a heating or coiiee pot indicated generally by the'numeral vI8 and a coffee container or bowl designated generally by the numeral I1. In this instance the pot and bowl are of metal, but the invention is obviously not limited to this type of construction. The pot IB has a handle I8 and an open top I9 surroundedby a pouring lip and spout 2| so that the pot may serve in the serving of coffee. The open top of the pot in the serving function thereof may be covered by a closure, as will presently be described. The bottom of the pot carries a heating element 22 and is sloped slightly, as shown at 23, toward a central well 24. Positioned in the bottom of the well 24, and substantially at its center is an upstanding stud 25 having a iiange 26 bearing against the bottom of the well and a nut 2l on the exterior of the container engaging a lower threaded portion 28'of the stud to securev the same in position in the pot. i

'I'he bowl I'I consists of a symmetrical portion 29 having a bottom well 3I terminating in a displacement tube 32, the interior of which communicates with the interior of the bowl. The tube 32 is advantageously threaded into a threaded boss 33 carried in the bottom of the well 3I so as to be removable for cleaning purposes. The tube 32 terminates at its lower end within the Well 24 of the pot below the level of the main body thereof and preferably below the level oi the heating element 22, and serves to conduct water from the interior of the pot I6 upward into the bowl when displaced by steam pressure within the pot. A rubber or similar gasket 34 is positioned around the exterior of the well 3| and is shaped to seat in the open top of the pot I6, as best shown in Figure 1 for the purpose of producing a steam-tight joint between the bowl and the pot. For the purpose of fixedly securing the bowl and the pot together, compressing the gasket 34, 'and retaining the filter in place, a rod 35 is provided of a length to extend from the upper end of the bowl I1 to a point adjacent the lower end of the pot I6, as shown in Figure l. The lower end of the rod 35 has an internally threaded sleeve 36 adapted to engage threads 31 on the upper end of the stud 25, the upper end of the stud having a pilot point 38 for guiding the sleeve into engagement with the threads 3l. Intermediate -its ends the rod is provided with spaced abutments 39 and 4I between which is slidably positioned von the rod a collar 42. The collar has an annular groove 43 within which is seated a split ring 44, and spaced therefrom adjacent the opposite end of the collar 42 is an annular flange 45, a portion of the collar being spun over as shown at 48 to secure the flange in place. A

2 asiansalter. Thus. the spacing of the abutments ss-si with respect to the coacting'parts serves to allow the rod to be unscrewed while the filter remains in its seated position, thereby preventing the ground coii'ee from passing down into the tube and into the coifee liquid at the time of removing the upper container. The sliding movement of' the rod in the collar 42 also serves the purpose 0f giving access to this portion of the rod for cleaning and as a means to prevent accumulations of foreign matter in the rod bearing.

secured a cylindrical supporting element 53, the

interior diameter of which is such as to closely receive the collar 42. The distance between the splitting 44 and the flange 45 is slightly greater than the length of the cylindrical supporting member 53 so that when the collar is received therein. the flange 45 rests against the upper face of the frame, and the split ring 44 rests against the lower end of the cylindrical member 53, thus retaining the filter frame in position on the collar but permitting rotation of the rod with respect to the frame and also rotation of the rod with respect to the collar 42. The frame is covered by a filter cloth 54 of conventional material in the form of a disk, the peripheral edges of which are gathered below the frame by means of a drawstring or the like, as shown at 55. The filter cloth has a central opening for the passage of the collar @therethrough but of such size that the flange 45 engages the periphery of the open- -this structure it will be seen that when the bowl i1 is positioned on the pot I5, the rod 35 with the attached filter may be inserted through the top of the bowl I1, thesleeve 35 passing down through the tube 32 into engagement with the upper end of the stud 25. Thereupon rotation of the rod 35 causes the rod to move downward so that the shoulder 39 engages the washer 41, the washer 41 engages the flange 45,'the flange 45, engages the iilter cloth and frame. and the periphery of the frame and cloth engages against the bottom of thewell 35. 'Ihe rod 35 is rotated until the parts are drawn up tightly, thus compressing the gasket 34and rigidly securing the parts in position. Because of -the manner in which the filter and iilter frame are removably secured to the rod 35, the cloth is easily removed for cleaning or replacement and the parts are easily disassembled for access to all parts of the device during the cleaning operation.

` Itvwill be observed that the'collar 42 which constitutes a filter supporting part is Vfreely rotatable as well as slidable axially on ythe rod between the abutments 33 and 4i. 'I'hese abutments confine the filter supporting part so that when. the filter parts are in operative condition they constitute with the rod a unit of assembly which can be removed, replaced. and cleaned as such. The free rotation of the (rod in the collar enables clamping. not only of the coffee bowl in the heating pot, but clamping of the filter supporting frame against the bottom of the coifee bowl, to thus firmly compress and hold these parts l in the desired coacting relation.y The limited sliding of the collar 42 on the rod is primarily for the purpose of permitting the rod to be unscrewed from its bottom connection without unseating the The upper end ofthe bowl i1 has a top opening 55 which is provided with an annular ring 55 of insulation material such as'a molded plastic material secured in position by a vertically disposed nange 5i ofthe bowl and a pin 52. The

ring 55 may advantageously be provided with an annular groove 53 for the purpose of producing a gripping surface for the lingers of the operator in removing the bowl from the pot. A closure member 54 having a knob 55 of insulation material and a depending ilange 55 is adapted to seat in the open top of the bowl, the open top beingi of substantially the same size as the open top i3 of the pot so that the closure 54 may be interchangeably used on the bowl and on the pot. A channel member having depending flanges 51 and 53 is axially positioned on the lower side of the closure 54 by means of a screw 5 5 or otherwise, the flanges 51 and 55 being of such depth as to rest within the plane of the end 51 of the rod 55 so that upon rotation -of the closure 54 the rod 35 may be rotated by contact with the flanges 51 and 58. Through this means at the conclusion of the coifee making operations, the operator may disengagethe rod 35 from the stud 25 by rotation of the knob 55 and remove the bowl from the pot by grasping the ring 55. In this way it is unnecessary for the operator to come into contact with heated portions of the device for the purpose of disengaging the rod 35 and removing the bowl.

Directing attention now more particularly to the structure for controlling the operation ofthe coffee maker. (which is more particularly described in my application Serial No. 237,247 of which this is a division), the pot i5 has a base designated generally by the numeral 1i, formed in this instance of insulation material such as a molded plastic and having legs 12 for supporting the pot to provide ventilation below the same. The lower side of the base has an opening13 closed by means of a plate 14 which abuts against a shoulder 15 of the base at its periphery. The center of the plate is drawn upward by means of a nut 15 engaging the threaded portions 25 of the stud 25, thereby securing the base to the bottom of the pot. The plateV 14 and the nut 15 are covered by a decorative plate 11 held in place by a screw 15 threaded into the end of the stud 25. Current is conducted from terminal pins H5 to the heating element through thermostat control mechanism which functions to control said element through two stages-a coffee making, stage, and a coffee warmingstage as described insaid application.

The operation of the device is as follows: The requisite amount of'water is placed in the pot I5 and the bowl yI1, together with the filter 45 and rod 35, are positioned in the pot, the upper end 51 of the rod being rotated by the fingers to tighten the twocontainers together as heretofore described. This operation compresses the gasket 3,4 and bring the lower end of the tube 32 well 24.j 'I'he indicated amount of ground coi'iee is then placed in the bowl II'and the heating coil 22 energized as described in my above-mentioned application. The coil'ee making operation then proceeds as described in said application, and some time after the conclusion thereof the bowl and illter mechanism are removed by rotating the knob 65 to unscrew the rod 35. and by grasping the ring 59 which, regardless o! the temperature condition of the bowl i1, will be at such temperature that the operator can comfortably handle the same. When the bowl is removed, the closure B4 is seated on the top of the pot I6 and the coffee is ready to serve.

It will be seen that I have provided novel means for securing the pots together, together with novel means for actuating the same. other feature of the inventionis the structure oi' the lter mechanism. I. have also provided a novel arrangement of coffee container facilitating its handling during the coffee making operations.

I am aware that numerous alterations and changes may be made in the specific construction disclosed. and I do not wish to be limited except as required by the prior art and the appended claims.

I claim:

1. 'I'he combination in a vacuum type coffee maker of an open top heating pot, an open top coee bowl adapted to seat in the open top of said pot, said bowl having a depending tube for movement of liquid between the pot and the bowl, a lter i'rame adapted to seat against the bottom of the bowl spanning the end of said tube, said frame having a marginal portion adapted to seat against the bottom oi the bowl and an axially disposed sleeve, a rod extending through said sleeve to a point adjacent the bottom of said pot, said rod having a freely rotatable collar thereon adapted to be received within said axial sleeve to releasably secure the filter frame to said rod and to apply pressure to the trame from said rod, and complementary screw threaded means onthe lower end of the rod and on the pot for urging the collar against the frame and the frame against the bowl to secure the bowl, frame and pot together.

2. The combination in a vacuum type coffee maker, of an open top heating pot, an open top coffee bowl adapted to seat in the open top of said pot, said bowl having a depending tube for movement of liquid between the pot and bowl, ine-ans extending through said tube for securing the pot and bowl together, means on the upper end' oi said securing means for operating the latter to fasten and uni'asten the pot and bowl, and a removable closure for the open top of the coffee bowl having attached thereto manually operable meansI coacting with said means on the upper end of the securing means and operable by rotative movement of the closure relative to the coffee bowl to fasten and unfasten the pot and bowl.

3. I'he combination set forth in claim 2, in which the top closure is shaped to t the open top of the heating pot and the coffee bowl, respectively, and in which the manually operable means on the closure is detachably engageable with the operable means at the upper end of the securing means.

4. 'I'he combination in a vacuum type coffee maker, of an open top heating pot, anopen top coiee bowl adapted to seat in the open top of the heating pot and having a depending tube for movement o! heated liquid between the heating pot and the coiiee bowl, a rod extending through said tube and having detachable screw connection with the heating pot. means coacting between the rod and the coiee bowl whereby the rod is rotatable in one direction to iixedly secure the coie bowl in its seated position on the heating pot and rotatable in the opposite direction to disconnect and permit removal of the coffee bowl from the heating pot, the rod being removable from the coil'ee bowl, a coiee filter held in operative position in the bottom of the coffee bowl by means o! the rod and removable from. said position by removal of the rod, and a closure i'or the open top of the coiee bowl having means detachably coacting with the upper end ,of the rod and'adapted to be operated by rotation of the closure with respect to the coffee bowl for connecting and disconnecting the rod i'rom the heating pot.

5. The combination in a vacuum type coiee 'maken of a lower heating container, an upper coiee container adapted to seat on the lower container and having a depending tube adapted for movement of liquid between the containers. a rod extending through the tube and having a screw thread connection at its lower end with the lower container and a handle at its upper end operable for rotating the rod in fastening and unfastening operations, .fixed abutments axiallyv spaced medially en the rod, a collar freely rotatable on the rod between said abutments, a filter element, and supporting means for replaceably holding said lter element and adapted to be clamped against a bottom portion of the upper container including means coacting between the collar and the iilter supportingmeans to impose axial v thrust against said supporting means by rotation of the rod to clamp said supporting means downwardly against the upper container and to thereby clamp the upper container downwardly against its seat on the lower container.

6. The combination in a vacuum type coiee maker, of a lower heating container; an upper coffee container adapted to seat on the lower .container and having a depending tube adapted medially on the rod; and illter means comprising a lter element, a part freely rotatable on the rod and retained thereon between said abutments, and a part adapted to be slipped over one end of the rod and over the adjacent abutment and coacting with the first mentioned part to support the illter element in operative position on the rod, the rod being rotatable in a fastening operation to clamp the iilter means against the upper container and thereby to clamp the upper container against its seat on the lower container. Y

7. 'Ihe combination set forth in claim 6, including means coacting between the first and second mentioned iilter supporting parts for establishing quick detachable connection between said parts. Y

8. The combination set forth in claim v6, including a yieldable holding element carried by one of said iilter supporting parts and adapted to yieldingly engage and disengage the athen in cooperative relation and to permit quick detachment of onepart with respect to the other.

9. The combination as set forth in claim 6. in which the filter means includesmcans operable to effect quick connection and disconnection of one of the filter supporting parts with respect to the other.

10. In a vacuum type coffee maker, in combination, an open top heating pot, a coil'ee bowl adapted to seat inthe top of said pot and having a depending tube for passage of heated liquid between the pot and thebowl, means for detachably securing the bowl inoperative position on the pot including a rod extending through the tube and detachabiy connected at its lower end to the howl. a conce filter adapted to be held 1n the bowl in a position to filter said heated liquid in its passage between the poi and the bowl including a illter element adapted to seat directly against the bowl continuously around the peripheral portion of the filter, means connecting thecoffee filter to the rod so that the rod' and .the filter constitute a unit of assembly removable and replaceable as such with respect to the pot and the bowl, the coffee lter being held seated in said filter position by means of said rod and said rod being freely rotatable in said filter, means at the upper end of the rod manually operable to rotate the rod with respect to the filter when said unit is in the illter position, and means effective upon said rotation of the rod to apply increasing pressure against the filter to increasingly clamp its filter element against its seat on the bowl, the lter being in such coaction with the bowl through said iilter element that said increasing pressure is applied to the bowl to thereby increasingly clamp the bowl against its said seat without rctating the lter wtih respect to the bowl.

11. The combination in a vacuum type coifee maker, of a lower heating container. an upper coffee container adapted to seat on the lower container and having a depending tube adapted.

for movement of liquid between the containers, aA rod extending through the tube and having a screw thread connection at its lower end with the 'lower container and a handle at its upper end operable for rotating the rod in fastening and unfastening operations, fixed abutments axially spaced medially on the rod, a collar axially and rotatably movable on said rod between said abutments, a filter frame adapted to seat in a bottom portion of the upper container, a'fllter element replaceably carried on the lter frame, and means coacting between the filter frame and the collar to clamp the filter frame downwardly against its seat and thereby to clamp the upper container downwardly against the lower container by turning the rod in one direction and to unclamp said parts by turning the rod in the opposite direction, the filter frame having a quick releasable connection with the collar for removal of the filter frame therefrom when the rod is unfastened.

12. In a vacuum type coffee maker, an open top heating pot, a coffee bowl adapted to seat on the heating pot and having a depending tube for movementof liquid between the pot and the bowl, removable illter means adapted to seat in the bottom of the bowl to retain ground coii'ee from passing into said tube, a rod threaded to. the bottom of the heating pot, extending upwardly through the tube and the filter means tighten said threaded connection when rotated .in one direction and to loosen it when rotated in the opposite direction, the rod being freely.

rotatable in the filter means, andmeans coacting between the rod and the lter means to impart downward thrust against the filter means to increasingly urge it against its said seat in response to rotation of the rod in the first mentioned direction and to increasingly urge thev bowl against its said seat through downward pressure applied through the filter means without rotation of said filter means, said coacting means providing for axial movement of the rod upwardly with respect to the filter means in response to rotation of the rod in the second mentioned direction so as to permit unfastening of the threaded connection without disturbing the sealing position of the filter means in the bot tom of the coffee bowl. y

13. The combination in a vacuum type coffee maker, of a lower heating container, an upper coil'ee container adapted to seat on the lower container and having a depending tube adapted for movement of liquid between the containers, a rod extending through the tube and having a screw thread connection at its lower end with the lower container and being operable at its upper end for rotation in one direction to tighten said screw connection and in the opposite direction to loosen said connection, filter means seated in the bottom of the coffee container to retain ground cofleefrom passing into said tube, the rod passing through said filter mea-ns and being freely rotatable therein and having fixed abutments one above the filter means and another below said fllter means, and means coacting between said abutments and said filter means constructed and arranged so that the upper abutment imparts downward thrust against the filter means to increasingly urge it against its said seat when the rod is turned in a direction to tighten said screw thread connection and the lower abutment is located to allow withdrawal movement of the rod with respect to the filter means when the rod is turned in the opposite direction to unfasten the screw connec-` tion.

14. In a vacuum type coifee maker, an open top heating pot, a coifee bowl adapted to seat on the heating pot and having a depending tube for movement of liquid between the pot andthe bowl, removable filter means adapted to seat against a bottom portion of the coffee bowl-to retain ground coffee from passing into said tube, clamping means having a helical connection at its lower end with the heating pot and extend ing upwardly to the filter means and being operable at its upper end for rotation in one direction to tighten said helical connection and in the opposite direction to loosen said connection, said clamping means being freely rotatable in the filter means, and means ccacting between the clamping means and the filter means to impart thrust against the filter means to increasingly clamp it against its said seat when the clamping means is turned in the first mentioned direction andk providing axial movement of the clamping means with respect to the filter means in response to movement of the clamping means in said opposite direction for unfastening said connection without unseating the filter means. IVAR JEPSON. 

